The dirt: Given that they pass between many hands, are used while snacking and rarely get cleaned, remote controls are often germ baths.To clean: Wipe with sanitizing wipes a couple of times per week.

The dirt: Given that they pass between many hands, are used while snacking and rarely get cleaned, remote controls are often germ baths.To clean: Wipe with sanitizing wipes a couple of times per week. (Jonathan Kitchen, Photographers Choice via Getty Images)

Here are average total bacteria counts, per square inch, for a dozen common germ-infested items we encounter in our daily lives, according to Gerba, who has tested hundreds of surfaces. Check out these photos and click here for the related article by Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz.